Bay Bridge Series has lost its luster

Is it just me or is there a ho-hum feeling to the Giants-A’s series this weekend? Yes, it’s cool to see the teams duke it out for Bay Area bragging rights, but they played three spring training games in Arizona, then they squared off for another three games in the Bay Area right before the season started. Now that they’re playing for real for the first time this season, I’m thinking: What? They’re playing each other again?

Add the fact that the Giants and A’s have already faced each other in interleague play for ten straight seasons, and it’s just not special anymore. It used to be, but the novelty has worn off.

While there is a natural rivalry because of the teams’ locations, there’s no hatred or bad blood between the teams or its fans. Giants and A’s players seem chummy with each other. You haven’t heard a Schilling-like, anti-Bonds comment coming out of the A’s dugout. No one has punched each other like in Chicago when the Cubs’ Michael Barrett slugged the White Sox’s A.J. Pierzynski at home plate last year. The reality is the Giants have a better rivalry against the Dodgers, and likewise the A’s with the Angels.

It was interesting to see how Barry Zito would fare against his old team Friday night. (He got pummeled). The game was important to him, his former teammates and the A’s fans who once rooted for him. But it wasn’t a big deal for Giants fans, and it didn’t spice up the rivalry. Zito said all the right things and even thanked Oakland fans in a newspaper ad when he joined the Giants, so most A’s fans have no reason to hate Zito.

Speaking of hate, A’s fans have more reason to hate the Giants because the Giants dominate the media and have a higher payroll, so when they beat San Francisco like they did Friday night, they probably get more satisfaction out of it. Each side has its die-hard fans, but I think most fans end up following both teams. They might not do so closely, but a Giants fans reading the sports pages or watching the sports highlights will always know what’s going on with the A’s and vice versa. I’m an example of that.

I have to admit, outside of the 1989 World Series, I kind of root for the A’s, too, simply because they’re a local team and because I want all local teams to do well. The only difference is my passion for the teams. It took me months – or was it years? – to get over our Game 6 collapse in the 2002 World Series. But when the A’s choke in the playoffs – like against the Yankees in 2001 or against the Red Sox in 2003 – I kind of forget it the next day.

The rivalry would have more drama and excitement if one team dominated the series. Again, putting the A’s ’89 World Series victory aside, the Giants and A’s have played each other pretty evenly with the Giants winning 27 and the A’s winning 30. If Oakland had a .800 winning percentage against us, you bet I’d be hating the Athletics.

This is not a knock on interleague play. I’m very much looking forward to the Giants visiting Fenway Park, and the Yankees visiting our ballpark this summer. (But I am dreading the thought of seeing new Toronto closer Jeremy Accardo get a save against the Giants).

It’s just that the Giants and A’s play against each other so frequently, that it’s too much of a good thing. Obviously, I’m in the minority because the weekend series in Oakland is sold out or nearly sold out.

Having said all this, I’d much rather see the Giants take on the A’s if the alternative is watching Kansas City or Tampa Bay.

Wylie Wong

Post navigation

While the series may be relatively even over time, why do I get the distinct feeling that the A’s have the Giants number? They always seem to be putting offensive pressure on the Giants and when they win, they win impressively. The Giants tend to go three and out more often, and when they do manage a V, they barely scrape by. I haven’t done a statistical analysis of this – it just seems that this is the way it is any time they get together. Instead of landing a big hitter or two for their $126 million, they get a pitcher who only plays every 5 days. I still don’t understand that one, other than desperation sinking in with the soon to be Bonds-less organization.

wylie

Gary: I agree. Without looking at stats, I just assumed the A’s had the Giants’ number, too. But according to Retrosheet.org, the Giants and A’s have split the series evenly in seven out of ten seasons. The A’s won 4 out of 6 in 2002 and 2005, and the Giants won 4 out of 6 in 2001.

Bryce Edwards

I like it and think it’s interesting at the 10-year point to see the overall record pretty close. Save for the handful of loner A’s fans, all with the chip on their shoulder, it’s never been a bitter rivalry. Generally speaking, given the ticket sales and local media coverage, I’d say there’s still solid interest in the series.